Natalia

Chapter 18 - Destiny

After being interviewed by several different people, it's finally Fred's turn. He watches as the vampire that surrendered herself sitting in the middle of the interrogation room, looking at her nails and waving at them by the two-way mirror.

"She looks so calm even after being punched in the face for hours. Well, good luck in there my friend,"

Chandler patted his friends back and push him into the interrogation room. Natalia turns to face him and offer him to sit in front of her.

"Sit. I'm ready," Fred examines every inch of her face. No scratch nor bruises. She was fascinated by the vampire's healing power.

"Something on my face?" She asked. 

"You have to tell me because I can't see myself in the mirror," Fred turns to the mirror and once again fascinated by his findings.

"Is your name Natalia Ambrose?" Fred inquired.

"I am," Natalia smiled.

"What should I call you?" Fred asked.

"Natalia,” Fred noticed she's fidgeting.

"Are you hungry?" Natalia slowly nod.

"It's been a whole day. I need to feed," Fred nods and stands up from his chair and went outside. Chandler handed him a tray and push him inside again. Natalia was wondering what type of red liquid that they provided for her. 

"We have no human blood, a wild boar is enough I presume," Natalia shrugs.

"Better than nothing I guess," the vampire lifts the glass up between her fingers and shakes it a little bit before trying animal blood. She was disgusted by the awful taste before placing the glass down. 

"This is revolting," She spoke.

"We can simply drain a human could we?" Natalia laughs at Fred’s reaction.

"Of course not. That wouldn't be civilized," Fred turn over the pages in his file and looks at it before facing the vampire.

"I have a couple of police reports about your disappearing. Is this true?" Fred started. 

"They torture for weeks before they killed me," Fred observes how calm she is as she talks about her horrible experience.

"You spoke about it with such ease," Natalia smile.

"When you were chosen to be a pet, all you have to do is accept the fact that you're no longer a human being," 

"True. Why do you kill those innocent humans with cold-blooded?" Fred questioned. 

"It's my job to do so. Besides, they hurt me. Now it's my turn to hurt them," Natalia smile.

"You well aware that those people you killed, is innocent?" Natalia glares into Fred's orbs.

"As I said to a couple of guys before you, they're not that innocent. Stop calling them that. If you're in my shoe, you will do the same," 

"What's your goal to achieve? To kill more people in the future?" 

"Only if their names on the list," Fred closes the files and ponder about Natalia’s aim.

"Who do you work with?" He question.

"You've met him," Natalia replied with a smile.

"How about we talk about you next, Frederick. Let's talk about your wife's affair with her co-worker. Your children love the guy more than he loves their father," Fred was bewildered. How did she know about his personal life?

"How did..." Fred turns to the two-way mirror.

"Oh, it's not his fault. I can see right through you," Natalia stands up with his hands and feet in cuffs.

"I'm a vampire. Silver handcuff doesn't work on me," Natalia shows how strong she is in front of the General and Fred. She carefully places the broken handcuff on the table and sits back on her chair.

“Are you sure you're capable of asking me all sorts of questions when you, yourself have a lot of problems to deal with?" Natalia wiggling her eyebrows.

"My master doesn't concern you," Natalia laughs before leaning forward.

"You're angry. Do you want to hit me?" Natalia turns her head and points at her left cheek to Fred.

"Hit me. Hit me with your best shot. Come on. You'll feel better. I promise. Make me bleed, hurt me, stab me if you want," Natalia encourages him. Chandler was worried he might fall into her trap as the others did. 

"I am too educated for this tedious act," Fred spoke and smile. The vampire faces the middle-age man and smiles back.

"You actually can control your emotion. That's a first for an army man," Fred chuckled.

"I'm not a soldier. I'm just someone who was given a task to complete," the vampire leans back. 

"I like the way you work, Frederick," Fred notices the light on top of the door flickering, telling him that Chandler needs to talk to him.

"Seems like we will have to continue this at some other time," The vampire nod and looks at the glass of animal blood. She's really hungry and there's no other option. She takes the glass and finished it in one go. The vampire swallows such vile liquid through her throat and almost gag.

On the other side, Chandler watches closely as the vampire swallowed the whole thing.

"She's different. Way different," Fred agreed with Chandler’s thoughts.

"I agreed. She has a lot of patients than the others huh?" Chandler turns to his friend.

"It seems like we don't have to use electric shock therapy. It made no difference," Fred chuckled.

 "Seems so," Chandler motion for his man to lead the vampire to her cell. Chandler turns around and leans by the table.

"What do you have in mind?" Fred seems to put his thinking hat on.

"Perhaps some psychiatric approach might help," Chandler was skeptical at first but he remembered it's Fred and he can do anything to work.

"Alright. What you need?" He questioned.

"Some time alone with her and something to tie her up, please. You are the soldier here. Don't you know what can keep her on her seat?" Chandler chuckled. 

"I'll think of something. For now, let's see how she adapt to her new environment," Chandler remembered something.

"Do you want to see block C?" Fred was confused.

"Block C?" He asked.

"Yea. The block where we kept all the creatures in a high-security facility," Fred was having a second thought. 

"Oh come on! Don't be afraid. I designed it myself. Nothing can penetrate them. Nothing goes in and out easily," Chandler assured him but Fred doesn't seem convinced at all.

***

"Get in there!" The guard shoves Natalia inside her cell before locking it.

"Good luck in hell," He smirks before spitting in Natalia’s jail cell. The vampire rolls her eyes at his action. When her eyes finally adapt with room darkness, she looks around the small but liveable space. She sits on the stone bench that was attached to the wall with her leg crossed.

"Welcome... it's been so long since I have a neighbor," Natalia looks up and was shocked to see a black hair woman leans on the glass that divided their cell. Natalia’s eyes were all over the woman's leathery skin. Almost like a … snake.

"I'm Valentina Serpenthell. Like my last name, I am a serpent goddess. That's why they build this special cell for me," Natalia hide her sly smirk as she nods her head.

"I'm Natalia," The woman hums.

"Nice name for a bloodsucker," The woman chuckles and swiftly move towards her bench.

"Why are you here?" She asked.

"I surrendered myself after my fourth kill," Natalia said with a smile. Valentina wonders why she did at first but she let it go.

"What about you?" Valentina shows her extremely long tongue to the vampire.

"I killed the general's son who was a major here. With this.," She chuckles while the vampire watches as she takes a slice of raw meat with her tongue and swallows it whole. Natalia was disgusted.

"Oh don't be so conservative. You kill for blood," Natalia lays down on the stone bench. After knowing her next victim is inside the cell next to her own, she needs to think of a way to proceed with her plan.

Well, except for the guards and the high-security facility. Natalia sighs heavily. Valentina observed her new neighbor with curiosity. She admitted that the vampire smells like someone she knew in her past life. She wanted to know more about her. 

Natalia gets up to a sitting position and wonders about the loud sound of sirens blaring throughout the jail... 

"Don't worry child. It's just the routine alarm. They going to let us out from the cell to the yard," Natalia’s eyes widen.

"But it's f*****g in the afternoon," Valentina laughs.

"So? You think they care?" 

"VALENTINA! SHOW US YOUR HANDS!" A guard shouted, startling the creature.

"I'm not deaf mortal!" She shows her hands as they cuffed them. When it was Natalia’s turn, the guard didn't even bother to asks for her hands. They went to place a collar on her neck as if she's a dog. Valentina laugh.

"Not even the werewolf who was here was cuffed on the neck!" Valentina continues to laugh heartily.

"Come here, dog," They pull hard on the chains, making the vampire lost her balance and fall on the floor. They didn't wait for her to get up as they drag her out from the cell and kicks her down the stairs. 

Everyone who stands in line cheer as the guards treated the vampire-like a rag doll. When the general made himself known he stops his officer from doing any more damage to the vampire. 

"If you kill her, Videric will come to us with his father," He whispered with venom and sent the officers away.

"EVERYONE MARCH DOWN TO THE YARD! NOW!" The general screams his anger out. Fred was wondering how is it possible for him to control his prisoner with ease.  

"Well hello there General. And friend.," Valentina made herself known to the man in charge.

"Miss Serpenthell. So nice to see you again," The creatures hiss when she wraps her arms around the general's shoulder.

"Likewise big boy.," Valentina leans in.

"Tell your guards to stand down. I can feel she's not like the others," The General glares at the creature.

"Go," He commanded and watch the creature as they went to the yard.

"Fred, I think we should proceed with the interviews. Valentina is a seductress but she never lied," Fred nod.

"I'll make the necessary preparation," 

Valentina walks out to the yard and looks for Natalia. She takes a long deep breath before noticing a figure covering itself with something that looks like a leather jacket. Valentina made her way towards the figure and laughs when it's Ambrose. She waves her hands in front of her face when she smells something burning. 

"Wow. The downside of being a creature of the night huh," Valentina chuckle at the vampire’s misery.

"Haha, very funny snake woman," 

"Snake woman?" Valentina question.

"Better watch your mouth or I'll eat you alive," Valentine smirk before blowing a kiss at the vampire. Natalia watched as the creature walks away before grabbing someone randomly and kiss him passionately. 

"You’ve met Valentina?" Natalia looks up to a.... she has no idea who or what this boy supposed to be. He has blue skin with two horns on his head. His teeth were all razor-sharp and it shows how hideous he looks when he smiles. 

"Yea. She's my neighbor," The creature laugh.

"She's a b***h but the s*x was good. Like really good," Natalia rolls her eyes and watches him go.

"She slept with that kind of creature as well?!" Natalia asked herself.

"I can't wait to kill you with my bare hands," She said mentally find somewhere to keep her from the sun.

***

A small compartment of the door was push up as someone from the other side of the cell door push a tray with a full cup of fresh blood inside. Natalia stands up, sniffs the glass before takes the cup between her fingers. She enjoyed the delicious fresh blood when it went through her dried throat. 

"Nice dinner eh," Valentina said and cut her meal to several even pieces.

"Very. It's better than the lunch we had," Valentina chuckle.

"Probably a fresh blood from a dead inmate. Humans. They hate to waste anything. Especially most of their prisoners are vampires,"  Natalia watch as Valentina was admiring an egg.

"What is that?" She asked.

"Alligator egg. The perfect meal for me," She smiles before swallowing the whole egg in just seconds. Valentina burps. 

"Disgusting," She said mentally before laying down on the bench. She closes her eyes and thinks of a way to end her neighbor with ease.

"Hey, Valentina. I was wondering. Why are you here?" she asked with her eyes closed.

"I told you before. I killed the general's son. But have to admit. After I manage to conquer a certain kingdom, he's just a small case," Valentina sigh.

"But that old man manage to trapped me and here I am," 

"You killed the general's son?" Valentina chuckle.

"He was happy I did. He was begging for it. I just had too," Valentina stands up and knocks on the glass.

"Hey, bastard! I need to shower!" Valentina sits back down and waits.

"You can have a shower?" 

"Yea. For my kind, I need to. We need moisture in our skin. Dried skin will destroy a beautiful face," Natalia scoffs.

"Well, that beautiful face will meet death," Ambrose said mentally and open her eyes when she heard Valentina's door was being unlocked from the outside. 

"Hey, can I shower as well?" Natalia asked the guard. 

"We have something special for you. The General himself will escort you to it," The guard smirk and placed the handcuffs on Valentina's hands and ankle.

"And you will never get some alone time anymore. After what you did to Carla, the general wanted more security around you," The guard informed. 

"Carla was a b***h. She refuses to have s*x with me.." 

"She's married!" The guard bantered. 

"So? Every married woman needs some Valentina as well. Same as their husband," The guard grabs Valentina by the neck and shoves her out of the cell with force.

"You and your petty mouth will stop talking right now or I'll make sure this will be your last shower," Natalia could see the little smirk on Valentina's mouth. 

"Oh relax Hayley. I won't force you to f**k me. But I do know you will like it. I can be a man if you want. Just beg," Valentina laugh. The guards drag her towards the shower area. The vampire stands up and watches where they taking the snake to. She was busy looking at the other way when Fred clear his throat.

"What are you looking for?" Fred question. Natalia shakes her head and wonders why he's here.

"The guards will cuff you now. You need to follow me,” the vampire nod and raises both of her hands. The guards proceed to handcuff her hands and ankle.

"Be gentle girls. We don't want to anger the vampire," Fred warn them. 

The guards hold both of Natalia’s arm and follow Fred towards a different building in the facility. When they were inside in what they called the white room, the guards push her on a chair before walking out of the room. Natalia looks around the room, wondering where she's at. 

"Is this where you will kill me?" She asked. Fred shakes his head.

"This is where we will talk. Like friends," Natalia raise an eyebrow.

"Talk? I thought friends wouldn't be handcuffing the others," the vampire lifts her hands to him.

"Standard procedure. You have to follow," 

"Fine. We will talk on one condition. I need another glass of fresh blood. I'm parched," Natalia rubs her neck and smile. Fred turns to the mirrors. As they wait, Fred beginning to open up his files.

"Natalia Ambrose. Age 24, kidnapped from the back alley of the Paradise club on Friday night and reported missing the next day, Saturday evening when her family members notice that you didn't call to inform them. Months had passed, the police discovered a bodiless limb around the desert, few kilometers from the club itself," Natalia smile. 

"The police confirmed that it belongs to a missing person report, Natalia Ambrose. You. For someone who was confirmed to be dead, you are very much alive," the vampire place the cup down and shows Fred her bloody grin.

"I'm just glad to be here," Fred stares at Natalia's wrist. 

"It's rude to stare," the vampire retort. 

"Nice scar. Let me guess. Videric himself somehow manage to 'fixed' you," the vampire shrugs.

"Maybe," Fred closed the files and takes off his glasses.

"Let's cut the chase. Why did the king himself send you here? There must be something that he wants you to do," Natalia keeps her face expressionless.

"You're correct. He did plan something. And I shall perform it miraculously well. I am one servant that will never betray my master," Fred has the urges to know more by what she meant.

"Tell me why he sent you here," Ambrose leans in. 

"I have a mission. It involves someone in this vast facility," 

"What is your mission?" Fred asked. 

"To kill someone that made an innocent creature go through a lot of pain and suffering. The greed will undo that person and I will have the pleasure to dance happily on its corpse," Fred slam his hands on the table and abruptly standing up, making the chair fell on the floor. 

"WHAT IS YOUR MISSION VAMPIRE?!" Fred screams on the vampire's face.

"Why not think about someone so dear to your general who's busy watching us having this pointless conversation," Natalia turns to the mirror with a smirk. 

"While you all standing there, hoping for an answer, someone you know might be on its way to your home, grab the person you love the most," Chandler's eyes widen and ran out of the room. Natalia laughs when Fred walks out of the room and commanded the guards to follow the general. 

Fred walks back in and grabs Natalia by the collar.

"Why?" He asked venomously.

"Why? It's destiny. They're meant to be together,"